MADISON, Wis. — A new financial aid initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is aimed at making the cost of college more affordable to Wisconsin-based students from low-income backgrounds.  

What You Need To Know

  • Bucky’s Pell Pathway expands on UW-Madison's Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which began in 2018

  • This year’s Bucky’s Pell Pathway recipients come from 65 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties 

  • UW-Madison accepted its first group of students this fall who will benefit from this initiative

  • The initiative benefited 977 new students to campus, 829 freshman and 148 transfer students

Bucky’s Pell Pathway expands on UW-Madison’s Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which began in 2018.

“Bucky’s Tuition Promise was aimed at students who had families with an adjusted gross income at, or below $65,000 who were residents of our state,” said Lauren “Lo” Klink, UW-Madison’s associate director for special awards and student engagement in the Office of Student Financial Aid. “What we looked to do was to expand the number of elements that would be covered.”

Bucky’s Pell Pathway covers not only tuition and fees but also housing, books, food, transportation and other essential elements in the cost of attendance.

UW-Madison accepted its first group of students this fall who will benefit from the initiative. Students must be Wisconsin residents and either incoming freshman, or transfer students.  

As illustrated by its name, Bucky’s Pell Pathway recipients must be eligible for Pell Grants.  

“We look at it as being an access point for students to attend our institution,” Klink said. “We not only provide that financial support, but we also give them opportunities to have additional services to surround them as they acclimate to campus, so we have workshops every month with a free meal and go over a lot of topics students may be interested in.”

Bucky’s Pell Pathway is primarily funded through private donors. The initiative benefited 977 new students to campus, 829 freshman and 148 transfer students, according to the university.  

“It has given me peace of mind and also more freedom to be able to just focus on my classes,” said freshman David Vazquez-Rojas, the son of Mexican immigrants and a first-generation college student. “I was hesitant to go to college, mostly because of factors like money.”

This year’s Bucky’s Pell Pathway recipients come from 65 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.  

In addition to in-state freshman and transfer students who are Pell Grant eligible, Bucky’s Pell Pathway also benefits students who are homeless, former foster youth, or those who do not have living parents. To see all other qualifications, click here.

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